‘Our ancestors spent most of their time (approximately 94% of human history) as hunter-gatherers, living in nomadic tribes that may have consisted of as few as 20 people. Groups that small, pitted against the forces of nature, needed strong leadership. Like many animals, humans have status hierarchies. High-status hunter-gatherers likely had many of the traits we still associate with charisma today: great eye contact, body language that signalled certainty, a persuasive voice.
The difference being that, back then, you had the opportunity to observe your peers all day, every day: their flaws, their virtues, their competence, often while facing lethal danger. If a person was merely superficially charming, you found out quickly. Charisma would only win out if accompanied by other important qualities, including sound judgment, good character and wisdom.
That’s not the case now. Technology allows us to shield the unpalatable parts of ourselves much more easily, selecting only the best bits for public consumption. Our brains did not evolve to process handpicked slices of someone else’s behaviour, detached from the rest of their lives, so we’re vulnerable to being duped. One frightening example is that of Ruby Franke, the parenting vlogger with millions of subscribers who was jailed for child abuse after two of her six children were found beaten and malnourished.
We spend a lot of time worrying about how the minds of teenagers are warped by the online world. We’re keenly aware how prone they are to manipulation by seemingly impressive figures. What we fail to realise is, we’re all teenagers when it comes to the internet. Algorithmic social media has only been around for about 15 years, and we remain largely unconscious of how routinely it bypasses our better judgment. Is there any way to grow out of this newly acquired susceptibility?
The best form of defence against the excesses of charisma is critical thinking. We should regard it as being like a collective immune system, and it should be central to our culture and the way we educate our young people. They should be taught how to evaluate sources, interpret information and recognise bias. Similarly, separating confidence from substance ought to be considered a basic life skill. Looking at counter-arguments when we are emotionally pulled to someone’s perspective should be routine, and changing our mind when it is emotionally difficult should be celebrated.
It would also be helpful for the average person to learn the fundamentals of confident communication. Not only can this help you express yourself when you have something of real value to offer, but it also teaches you to see through a person who would happily use such tactics to deceive or seduce.
All told, charisma should actually be a red flag that encourages us to be more sceptical of an individual, not less.’ (from the Guardian)
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